bromochloroacetic-acid and Poultry-Diseases

T6SS (type VI secretion system) is a type of nano-syringe that exists in APEC (avian pathogenic

Topics: Animals; Chickens; Escherichia coli; Escherichia coli Infections; Escherichia coli Proteins; Keratins; Poultry Diseases; Virulence Factors

1. We report the first measurements to be made on the effects of hydration on the mechanical properties of commercially-prepared duck down feathers. Tensile tests were performed, to failure, on isolated barbs of down feathers at 50% RH and with fully-hydrated (wet) feathers. 2. The Young's modulus (stiffness) and ultimate stress (strength) of the feathers was higher at 50% RH than when wet. Wet feathers, however, failed at greater extension than dry feathers. The implications for down feather performance and for the use of feathers as a structural material are discussed.

Topics: Animals; Dehydration; Ducks; Feathers; Humidity; Keratins; Poultry Diseases; Tensile Strength

Multiple lesions of dermal squamous cell carcinoma are found at a low frequency (0.04%) in the carcasses of young meat-type chickens at slaughter. For this study, affected carcasses (n = 308) were removed from the processing line, and lesions were characterized by size, distribution, and morphology. Carcasses were also sexed and examined for evidence of metastasis. Nodular (n = 297) and ulcerative (n = 1,707) lesions were counted and examined. Most lesions were present in the pectoral, dorsopelvic, and femoral feather tracts. Few lesions (n = 11) were found in wing tracts. Mean diameter was 5.4 mm for ulcerative lesions and 3.1 mm for nodular lesions. Histologic sections of ulcerative (n = 579) and nodular (n = 113) lesions were examined. Small nodular lesions originated from hyperplastic feather follicle epithelium. Nodules contained keratin-filled cysts lined by squamous epithelium that were associated with isolated islands and infiltrating cords of dermal keratinocytes. Loss of surface epithelium resulted in noduloulcerative and ulcerative lesions. Invasion of underlying skeletal muscle and evidence of visceral metastasis were not present, but invasion through elastic laminae and into the subcutis was present in 20.5% (134/654) of the lesions examined. The nodular lesions in these carcasses were morphologically similar to early nodular lesions previously described in live chickens as avian keratoacanthomas. A retrospective study compared selected production parameters and disease condemnations to the prevalence of squamous cell carcinoma in 665 flocks of broiler chickens. There was a positive correlation (P < 0.0001) with the occurrence of airsacculitis but a negative correlation with increased age and condemnations for leukosis (P < 0.0001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Topics: Animals; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Keratinocytes; Keratins; Poultry; Poultry Diseases; Prevalence; Retrospective Studies; Skin Neoplasms

Ducks maintained from hatching on zinc-deficient diets were retarded in growth and had severe lesions of the pedal epidermis, epithelia of the base of the tongue, oral surface of the larynx and nasal sinuses. Similar but milder changes affected the roof of the mouth, the crop and the oesophagus of a few cases. There was derangement of the architecture of the rete mucosum with loss of distinction between the cells of the stratum basale and stratum spinosum. Enlargement of the nuclei and nucleoli of these cells, widening of the intercellular space and dyskeratosis and degeneration, particularly of the prickle cells, were seen. Although epithelial atrophy occurred in early examples of the condition, acanthosis, hyperkeratosis and heterophil infiltration of the epithelial layers were characteristic of most cases. Erosion of the epithelium with the formation of purulent crusts ocntaining secondary bacterial foci was present and in these cases inflammatory phenomena occurred in the dermis. A small proportion of the nuclei of the pancreatic exocrine cells were enlarged and irregular in shape.

Topics: Animals; Body Weight; Ducks; Epithelium; Keratins; Larynx; Paranasal Sinuses; Poultry Diseases; Skin; Tongue; Zinc